Chipper Matrose growing into role with Chippa

Chippa United will be looking to get back to their winning ways in the DStv Premiership when they host Stellenbosch in a league fixture at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on Sunday (3pm).

A win against Stellenbosch could see the Gqeberha side avoid being dragged into the relegation battle this season.

The Chilli Boys are 13th on the log and level on 22 points with Maritzburg

United, who are above them due to a better goal difference.

However, Chippa are not out of the woods just yet because only four points separate them from relegation playoff candidates Moroka Swallows, who are on 18 points with a game in hand.

Chippa will be working towards maintaining that spot as the league draws to an end and in doing so avoid the relegation zone.

Chippa teenage star Azola Matrose, of Walmer Township, has been impressive in the last two matches against Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United and says nothing less than a win will do.

The 19-year-old central midfield scored his first PSL goal last week and was also awarded his first man of the match award during their 1-1 draw against SuperSport.

Matrose said he needed to constantly improve from his last match and aimed to be on top form against Stellenbosch.

“Yes, my performance from the last two matches has put a lot of pressure on me because I can’t disappoint the people who support me and those who look up to me, so I have to maintain that game,” Matrose said.

“The game against Stellenbosch is very important because we are level on points with the team above us, Maritzburg United.

“We need to win against Stellenbosch so that we remain safe from the relegation zone and if they lose or draw then that will give us an opportunity to move one place up the table,” he said.

Upon returning from the December break, the Chilli Boys struggled to get a win in the league and went on a fourmatch winless run before beating Golden Arrows 2-1 in early March.

However, since then coach Kurt Lentjies’s troops have played to two draws and one defeat.

Meanwhile, Stellies will go into Sunday’s fixture on a high after a 2-0 win over Arrows.

They are sitting comfortably in sixth position on the log with 36 points. HeraldLive